The Variegated spider monkey[1] or brown spider monkey (Ateles hybridus) is an endangered species of spider monkey, a species of New World Monkey endemic to the forests of northwestern Venezuela and northern Colombia.
- The variegated spider monkey is similar in appearance to other spider monkey species. However, as their common name suggests, spider monkeys have unusually long and spindly limbs.
- Their front legs are longer than their hind legs, and their intermembrane index is around 105. They also have a long, slender prehensile tail that acts almost like a fifth limb.
- These traits make them very suspensory, allowing them to forage and travel easily in the high canopy.
- The tail length is about 75 cm (30 in), and it is very flexible and hairless distally, with rough skin for a better grip. The hands are hook-shaped with 4 elongated, curved fingers.
- The thumb is reduced, which makes it easier to swing and grasp branches, an adaptation to its strictly arboreal lifestyle.
- Spider monkeys are the largest of all New World primates, an adult male brown spider monkey weighs between 7.9 and 9.1 kg, and an adult female weighs between 7.5 and 9 kg.
- The average body length of an adult human being is around 50 cm. Its coloring varies from light brown to dark brown on the upper parts, including the head.
- The inside of the legs, arms, and tail are a lighter, bolder color. Another distinctive feature of this species is the white triangular patch on the forehead, but not all individuals have this distinctive feature.
- Some individuals also have light blue eyes, usually light brown.
